One of the primary and most consistently offered forest-landowner oriented educational programs has been the Montana Forest Stewardship Program. The goal of this program is to help landowners assess their forests, develop short and long term objectives for their lands, and write a plan that reflects their resource potential and personal objectives for their land.

Over the years this program has experimented with different educational strategies, management plan templates and desired outcomes, and its role in context to other educational programming. After careful consideration, MSU Extension is expanding the initial Forest Stewardship Workshop from a one-workshop forest planning program to a multiple workshop Montana Master Forest Steward Program.

The original Forest Stewardship workshop will remain the primary class with additional complementary classes offered as advanced topics. Although the Forest Stewardship class is not a prerequisite, it will be required to qualify as a graduate Master Forest Steward. As you may note, quite a few of the workshops listed under the Master Forest Steward Program already are offered. However, they are not offered as a consistent and coordinated curriculum. A few new workshops will be developed as a result of this program and others may be added in the future. Landowners who attend 10 of the courses offered (seven core courses plus three elective courses) and complete this program will be recognized with a certificate.

Tentative courses offered over a period of several years:

Core Courses

  • Forest Stewardship Planning Workshop
  • Wildfire Hazard Reduction
  • Forest Insect and Disease Identification and Management
  • Forest Understory Plant/Range Identification and Management OR Forest Noxious Weed Management
  • Advanced Silviculture or Timber Sale Management
  • Estate Planning for Forestland Owners
  • Forest Wildlife Habitat Identification and Management

 

Elective Courses

  • Forest Riparian Area Assessment
  • Slash Pile Burning Practicum
  • Forest Roads Assessment and Design
  • GPS Applications in Forestry
  • Basic Computer Applications in Forest Stewardship
  • Small Equipment for Logging Operations
  • Wildfire Restoration
  • Managing your forest as a business (cost-benefit analysis, taxes)

 

Classes are taught by a team of natural resource professionals. If you are interested in a learning experience like this, refer to our calendar for workshops offered.